Recent trends in biodegradable polymers specify noteworthy improvements in terms of distinctive design strategies and manufacturing to deliver advanced polymers with comparably high performance. Though, there is a huge number of shortfalls in terms of cost of manufacturing and technology especially in the case of several environmental pollution applications. Therefore, there is a necessity to have an innovative perception of the properties, design, and utilities of such polymers with a view to emerging strategies for upcoming improvements.

The biodegradable polymers can be manufactured from fossil resources but major manufactures are achieved from renewable materials. The whitepap

Recent trends in biodegradable polymers specify noteworthy improvements in terms of distinctive design strategies and manufacturing to deliver advanced polymers with comparably high performance. Though, there is a huge number of shortfalls in terms of cost of manufacturing and technology especially in the case of several environmental pollution applications. Therefore, there is a necessity to have an innovative perception of the properties, design, and utilities of such polymers with a view to emerging strategies for upcoming improvements.

The biodegradable polymers can be manufactured from fossil resources but major manufactures are achieved from renewable materials. The whitepaper reviews the current stage of biodegradable polymers and deliberates the salient features of the properties and design of biodegradable polymers. Enzymatic and microbial biodegradation of polymers and some of the factors which affect their biodegradability also converse.

Scope of Biodegradable Polymers

Research & development to present a biodegradable polymer depends on the design of materials along with a conceptual application. Biopolymers are mostly useful in packaging, agriculture, automotive, and medical industry.

Biodegradable polymers that may be used in packaging remain to receive further attention than those improved for others. All stages of government, specifically in Germany and China, are approving the extensive application of biodegradable packaging materials to decrease the volume of inert materials inclined to landfills.

It is anticipated that more than 41% of biodegradable polymers are used in packaging, and almost half of the volume is required to package food products.

BASF, a leading plastic and chemical industry, is working on future advancements of biodegradable polymers based on starch and polyester. Eco-flex is a completely biodegradable plastic material which was presented to customers by BASF in 2001. This material is resistant to grease, water, hygienic for disposable packaging, decompose in the usual composting process. Accordingly, Eco-flex has found a huge number of significant applications as a wrapping material as well.

Types of polymers

It is important to know that the biobased do not equivalent to biodegradable, due to the whole market includes three major groups of products: A bio-based non-biodegradable polymer such as biobased PP, PE, or PET and biobased technical performance like TPC-ET or PTT.

Polymers that are both biodegradable and biobased, are PHA or PBS and PLA. Among these, the PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) is one of the fastest-growing biodegradable polymers driven by its extensive use in wrapping, even PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) is aliphatic polyester formed through the fermentation of carbon substrate in a microorganism. Polymers which are based on fossil resources are biodegradable, such as PBAT.

Industrial sources anticipate that bio-based polymers like bio-polyethylene will grow more rapidly than biodegradable polymers due to some factors such as the ‘drop-in’ capability that they have, as their use, production, and disposal are same as conservative petrochemical-based polymers. For example, all polymer materials degrade over time, it is vital to follow some standards to evade over using the “bio-degradable”.

Who is buying?

The global bio-degradable polymer market anticipates that, “In 2012, the European market was one of the dominant regions for biodegradable polymers with consumption of 147 KMT and around 55% of the consumption across the world. Similarly, North America region accounted for near about 29% and Asia around 16%.”

The packaging was one of the largest applications of biodegradable polymers, with market revenue of approximately 60% of the overall demand in 2013. The growing demand for polylactic acid (PLA) and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) is boosting the demand for biodegradable polymers, however, the bioplastics industry accounts for just about 1% of the global plastics market.

While a number may see this as proof of the huge demand for these products, several investors see this only as an opportunity for development in a yet-to-be-realized market. That is growth in excess of 10% globally within 4 years that makes an investment in this area as an exciting prospect. This is particularly true in certain areas, as researchers predict that, “the bio-based biodegradable polymers market in Latin America is anticipated to demonstrate the largest share of more than 22.6% followed by the Asia Pacific around 20.7%.”

Environmental Benefits of biodegradable polymers

• Oxo-biodegradable polymers come in various types than one can imagine. Currently available, apart from the sacks and classic bags, are cutlery, and packaging such as stretch-wrap and bubble wrap and polystyrene foam as containers for food and eggs take out trays.
• Potting plants has not ever easier as with Oxo-biodegradable polymer pots. They will degrade and convert into biomass.
• Uses of Oxo-biodegradable polymers are restricted by imagination. Just think of any type of plastic in use which needs not last after its first use, or needs no longer than a year.
• When an Oxo-biodegradable polymer converts into biomass and is ingested by plants, carbon is fixed, avoiding its release to the environment.
• There is a number of uses of degradable polymers in terms of the agriculture sector. For examples opportunities occur where banana production market can increase the benefit in banana price and export volumes by the integration of degradable polymers in the farming process. Means the decrease of insecticides and reduce waste. Some other examples comprise polymer mulching turning to biomass; reducing the removal of damaged out plastics by just enabling them to crumble and become biomass.

Conclusion

There is a number of areas where biodegradable polymer materials can find its applications. The sectors of medicine, agriculture, control drug release, automotive, packaging, and medicine all involve environmentally friendly polymers. Owing to biodegradation adapted to particular needs, every industry could create their personal ideal material. Various methods of biodegradation are also one of the major advantages of these materials, due to disposal methods may be adapted to industry provisions. Environmental concern is continually increasing in significance to both industry and consumers. For those who form biodegradable polymer materials, it is one of the significant advantages. Biopolymers bound carbon dioxide releases at the time of creation and degrade to living matter after discarding.